Wilma Hicks

A wonderful spirit was born on November 5, 1924 in Paragould, Arkansas to Bertie and Thomas Yearry: Daisy Wilma (Yearry) Hicks. Her first name was Daisy, Wilma being her middle name. Daisy was one of her mother’s best friends. When Daisy Wilma was about 6 months old, her mother’s friend changed her name to Doris, saying she always disliked the name Daisy. So she was called Wilma by those who knew her; but more importantly, she was called Mom, Aunt, Grandma, Great-Grandma Daisy, den mother, PTA member, neighborhood mom, wife, business partner, master bargain shopper, seamstress and friend, and a lover of butterflies and daisies.

On June, 30, 2016, Wilma passed away peacefully, in her home in KCK.

Leaving Paragould, the family moved to St. Louis, Mo. for a brief time and then eventually to Prescott, Arizona when Wilma was 2 years old. Having had some health problems during her young years, Wilma missed nearly two years of elementary school. In high school, Wilma loved archery and bowling. She won 3rd place in a local archery competition. She worked at a neighborhood drug store, but had time to enjoy life with her friends and family. At one point, her family had livestock, including a bull, on a free-range ranch. One of Wilma’s responsibilities was to bring Willy the Bull back to the house each evening. She shares that he was quite the challenge, but she nearly always got her way.

Following graduation, she took a job at the National Guard Armory in Prescott, Wilma did ‘blind riveting’ on airplanes for the war. One woman would push rivets into the airplane wing from the top while Wilma reached her arm inside the wing and riveted them into place.

At the age of 20, Wilma and a friend took a bus from Prescott to Corpus Christi, Texas. She found a job in a chicken pot pie shop located at Five Points. Wilma was working at this pie shop when she met her future husband, Robert Dale Hicks. He was stationed at the naval base. Their first date was on August 19, 1945, where they went to a carnival at North Beach, Texas.

They fell in love and decided to marry soon. When Wilma told her boss she was getting married, the boss gave Wilma a heavy rolling pin, covered with pie crust, as an engagement gift. Bob and Wilma were married on the base on Dec. 10, 1945.

Bob and Wilma moved around to take advantage of different job and living opportunities.

They lived in Arizona, Iowa and Nebraska, finally settling in Kansas City, Kansas. With her husband, Wilma and Bob raised four children. She was an active wife and mother, working with the PTA, setting up school carnivals, room mother and helping teachers with classroom materials. She also gave wedding and baby showers for some of the elementary teachers, with all the neighborhood moms attending to celebrate. Wilma was also active with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, being a den mother for the troops; all while supporting Bob as he coached 3 & 2 Baseball.

Bob and Wilma were very involved with the VFW Post 869. Supporting the veterans in many ways, including monthly trips to Wadsworth Hospital in Leavenworth, Ks.; providing treats and playing bingo with the vets who were hospitalized.

They owned a bakery together in downtown Overland Park, Ks from 1964-1972. Their bakery, House of Pastries, quickly built a reputation for quality products and great customer service. While Bob ran the back, baking and decorating; Wilma ensured the quality service was the best, quickly learning customer names, favorite bakery treats and how they liked their coffee.

After selling their bakery, Bob began work at Lucy Lynn’s Pastry and Party Shop while Wilma turned a hobby of sewing into a career. She began working as an alteration seamstress for Mr. Guy’s Men’s Clothing store. After 17 years, she retired and set up shop at home. She enjoyed sewing and established a large clientele. Wilma no longer had to drive downtown to park and walk to work. She created a flexible schedule, enjoyed her clients and was able to spend more time with the love of her life.

Wilma loved to celebrate holidays and established many family traditions that are carried on to this day. Christmas morning surprises, Easter egg hunts in the back yard, Halloween fun, Thanksgiving dinners.

Wilma loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She cherished the time she spent with each of them, making each feel exceptional. She often said the perfect reason to live so long was to enjoy grandchildren and especially great-grandchildren. She taught each of them the power of unconditional love, to be adventurous and that age was a state of mind. Her great grandchildren could do no wrong. Wilma knew what each great-grandchild liked and made sure treats were plentiful. There was a closet full of toys and she insisted that her precious greats could play with them as often as they liked. She felt you were never to young to enjoy candy and always had plenty. Wilma was a great shopper and could find bargains and treasurers at any store in town.

Preceding her in death is her husband, Bob; father, Thomas Yearry; step-father, John McPherson; mother, Bertie McPherson; sister, LaVerne Trueblood; brother, Jack Yearry; and granddaughter, Stacey Hicks. Now she can visit with Bob, enjoying each other’s company and tell stories about their four children, Gary Hicks (Louise), Overland Park, KS.; Ron Hicks (Barb), North Platte, Neb.; Jeff Hicks (Michael Henke) (KCK); and daughter, Theresa Van Goethem and her husband and one and only favorite son-in-law, Dan (KCK); six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and longtime friend, Vi Bliss.

In lieu of flowers, Wilma’s request was for donations to be made to “Hands to Heart” at 3311 North 55th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66104. She treasured her time helping founder, Michael Bergen, in its early years. This organization provides toys, and so much more, for children during the holidays.

The visitation will be 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Mt. Moriah Funeral Home 10507 Holmes, Kansas City, Mo. You are invited to join the family as we celebrate and honor Wilma’s light, love and zeal for life. Services will immediately follow the visitation.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.